Surgical mesh restrictions introduced amid safety concerns

Several surgical mesh products have been restricted by Medsafe, amid concerns over their safety.

Medsafe, the regulator of medicines and medical devices in New Zealand, has applied restrictions to 29 products from four suppliers used in surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

The restrictions will not apply to mesh used for other types of surgery, such as hernia repair.

It comes after a Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) review in Australia gave "cause for Medsafe to question the safety of certain devices".

Medsafe has contacted four suppliers in New Zealand, who it says will comply with the restrictions by January 4, 2018.

It follows hundreds of women in New Zealand speaking up about pain they've suffered from the mesh after surgeries.